Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus.. This once common disease is now almost always preventable with a vaccine.. Measles, also known as rubella, can be serious and even fatal for young children.

In the following article, we're going to learn more about measles and when to see a pediatrician.

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Measles symptoms

Measles symptoms appear about 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The signs and symptoms of measles usually include:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Running nose
• Sore throat
• Inflamed eye (conjunctivitis)
• Small white spots with a bluish-white center on a red background that occur inside the mouth and on the inner lining of the cheek - also known as Koplik's spots.
• A type of skin rash consisting of large, flat spots that often overlap.

This infection has stages that happen over two to three weeks.

Infection and latent period: In the first 10 to 14 days after being infected, the measles virus remains latent... during this time, you have no signs or symptoms of measles.

Non-specific signs and symptoms: Measles usually begins with a mild to moderate fever, often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis), and a sore throat. This relatively mild illness may last two or three days.

Acute illness and rash: The rash consists of small red spots, some of which are slightly swollen... These spots first appear on the face.

Over the next few days, the rash spreads to the arms and trunk, then appears on the thighs, legs, and feet. At the same time, the fever rises sharply, often reaching 40-41 degrees Celsius..

Contagious period: A person with measles can transmit the virus to others for about eight days, starting four days before the rash appears and ending four days after the rash appears.

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When should you see a pediatrician?

If you think you or your child has been exposed to measles, or if you have a rash that looks like measles, call your doctor.

Review your family's vaccination records with your doctor, especially when your children start school or college or before traveling abroad.

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Causes of measles

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. Then when a person with measles coughs, sneezes, or talks, the infected droplets are spread into the air, where other people can inhale them.

Infected droplets may also land on a surface, where they remain active and infectious for several hours. You can get the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching an infected surface.

About 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to a person infected with the virus will become infected.

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Risk factors

Measles risk factors are:

Unvaccinated: If you have not been vaccinated, you are much more likely to get this disease.

International travel: If you travel to developing countries, where measles is more common, your risk of contracting the disease is higher.

Vitamin A deficiency: If you don't have enough vitamin A in your diet, you are likely to have more severe symptoms and complications.

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Complications of measles

Symptoms of measles are:

• Ear infection: One of the most common complications of measles is bacterial ear infection.
• Bronchitis, laryngitis, or whooping cough: Measles may lead to inflammation of your voice box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air passages of the lungs (bronchi tubes).
• Pneumonia: Pneumonia is one of the common complications of measles... People whose immune system is compromised may get a special and dangerous type of pneumonia, which is sometimes fatal.
• Encephalitis: About 1 person out of every 1000 people with measles gets a complication called encephalitis.
• Pregnancy problems: If you are pregnant, you should take special care to prevent measles because this disease can cause premature birth, low birth weight and maternal death.

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measles prevention methods

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adults be vaccinated to prevent measles.

Measles vaccine in children

To prevent measles in children, doctors usually give the first dose of the vaccine to babies between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second dose is usually given between 4 and 6 years of age.... Remember:

If you are traveling abroad when your child is 6 to 11 months old, talk to your child's doctor about getting the measles vaccine early.

If your child or teen has not received two doses of the vaccine at the recommended time, he may need two doses of the vaccine two weeks apart, four weeks apart.

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Measles vaccine in adults

If you are an adult with these symptoms, you may need the measles vaccine:

• Be at high risk for measles - such as going to university, traveling internationally or working in a hospital - and there is no evidence that you are immune.

If you are not sure if you need the measles vaccine, check with your doctor.

Measles prevention during known outbreaks or infections

If someone in your family has measles, take these precautions to protect vulnerable family and friends:

Avoidance: Because measles is highly contagious for about 4 days before and 4 days after the rash appears, infected people should not return to activities that involve contact with other people during this time. It may also be necessary to keep unvaccinated people - for example, siblings - away from the infected person.

Vaccination: Ensure that anyone at risk of measles who is not fully vaccinated receives the vaccine as soon as possible... This vaccine includes infants older than 6 months and born in 1957 or older who do not have written documentation of vaccination or evidence of immunity or previous exposure to measles.

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Prevention of new infections

If you've had measles before, your immune system is equipped to fight the infection and you won't get it again.. Most people born in the United States or who lived before 1957 are immune to measles because they've had it before.

For everyone else, there is the measles vaccine, which is important for:

• Promote and maintain widespread immunity: Since the introduction of the measles vaccine, measles has been virtually eliminated in the United States, even if not everyone is vaccinated... This is called the herd immunity effect.... But herd immunity may now be slightly weakened, possibly due to declining vaccination rates.... The prevalence of measles in the United States has recently increased significantly.
• Preventing the re-emergence of measles: a consistent vaccination rate is important because after the vaccination rate is reduced, measles soon starts to return..

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Measles diagnosis

Your doctor can usually diagnose measles based on the characteristic rash, as well as a small, bluish-white spot on a bright red background - Koplik's spot - on the inner surface of the cheek.. However, many doctors have never seen measles and may mistake the rash for a number of other diseases.. If necessary, a blood test can confirm whether the rash can actually confirm me.... Generally from a throat swab or urine sample.

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measles treatment methods

There is no specific treatment for established measles infection, however some steps can be taken to protect vulnerable people who are exposed to the virus.

Post-exposure vaccination: Unimmunized people, including infants, can be vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure to the measles virus to protect against the virus. If measles still develops, the disease usually has milder symptoms and lasts less time.

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Serum immunoglobulin: Pregnant women, infants, and people with weakened immune systems who are exposed to the virus may receive injections of a protein (antibody) called serum immunoglobulin... These antibodies can prevent measles or reduce the severity of symptoms when given within 6 days of exposure to the virus.

Important drugs for the treatment of measles

Fever relievers: You or your child may use over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin Kids, etc.), or naproxen sodium (Aleve) to help relieve fever associated with measles.

Don't give aspirin to children and teens with measles symptoms.... Although aspirin is approved for use in children over 3 years of age, children and teens who are recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin.... This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially dangerous condition in these children>..

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Antibiotics: If a bacterial infection such as pneumonia or an ear infection develops while you or your child has measles, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Vitamin A: Children with low vitamin A levels are more susceptible to measles.. Giving vitamin A may reduce the severity of measles.